Katie's back safely at home

ELTHAM couple Yvonne and David Richardson have their beloved baby ‘Katie’ back.

“And she is grounded!” declared her ‘traumatised’ mum. “She’s not going outafter dark or running off with strange men ever again.”

Katie, a 1967 Mazda 1500, who has been in the Richardson family for 23 years, was stolen from Molesworth Street last Thursday night while her ‘parents’ wereat a Leukaemia Foundation volunteer’s meeting.

Richmond crime manager, Det Insp Greg Moore, said the vehicle with distinctive dual red stripes down the middle was spotted by an off-duty policeman at Inbal, near Gympie, on Monday.

“A male from Windsor, NSW, has been arrested and remanded in custody up there, and arrangements are under way to get the vehicle back to the owner,” he said.

But the Richardson’s couldn’t wait that long – they were on the road as soon as they heard the news.

“We really want to thank Senior Constable Bill Greer from Inbal who spotted the car with a kid driving when he was out buying milk,” Ms Richardson said. “He asked a few questions and knew something was up.”

Mr Richardson said they had planned to fix her up and take the red stripes off.

“We’re not so sure about losing the stripes now, but we will fix her up, even though Julia (Gillard) wants us to get rid of her,” he laughed.